On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, James Beard-nominated chef, cookbook author, and hospitality entrepreneur Einat Admony shares her East-to-West culinary journey—from growing up in Tel Aviv and feeding the Israeli army to building a budding restaurant empire in the wilds of New York and feeding an appetite for standup comedy—with hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash. Brought to you by Minonetto Prosecco.
On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, James Beard-nominated chef, cookbook author, and hospitality entrepreneur Einat Admony shares her East-to-West culinary journey—from growing up in Tel Aviv and feeding the Israeli army to building a budding restaurant empire in the wilds of New York and feeding an appetite for standup comedy—with hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash. Brought to you by Minonetto Prosecco.
THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST is produced by 1st Reel Entertainment and distributed by EatsDrinksTV, a service of the Center for Culinary Culture—Home of The Cocktail Collection, and is available wherever fine podcasts can be heard. The Center for Culinary Culture—Telling the Story of Food & Drink…One Taste at a Time.
For full show notes and guest bios visit our website at TheCocktailGuruPodcast.com
FURTHER READING
Personal Website
Business Website
Books
Shuk: From Market to Table, the Heart of Israeli Home Cooking (2019) (https://www.workman.com/products/shuk/hardback)
Balaboosta: Bold Mediterranean Recipes to Feed the People You Love (2013) (https://www.workman.com/products/balaboosta/hardback)
Press & Media
"Israeli star chef Einat Admony cooks up a new gig: Standup comedy: The culinary queen credited with popularizing Israeli food in the US is revamping the Comedy Cellar’s Olive Tree Cafe — and dishing out some off-menu jokes onstage" - The Times of Israel (May 19, 2022) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-star-chef-einat-admony-cooks-up-a-new-gig-standup-comedy)
"Chef Einat Admony, who performs at the Comedy Cellar, talks revamping the menu next door: The New York chef with a flair for comedy has recently updated the menu at Olive Tree Cafe" - Time Out (May 10, 2022) (https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/chef-einat-admony-who-performs-at-the-comedy-cellar-talks-revamping-the-menu-next-door-051022)
"The Dish: Chef Einat Admony on her innovative approach to Middle Eastern cuisine" - CBS Mornings (March 26, 2022) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYNA_rG2dys)
"What Chopped Winner Einat Admony Is Up To Now" - Mashed (March 10, 2021) (https://www.mashed.com/352180/what-chopped-winner-einat-admony-is-up-to-now)
"Einat Admony’s Rosh Hashanah Table" - Jewish Food Society (September 13, 2019) (https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/posts/2019/9/11/einat-admonys-rosh-hashanah-table)
"Chef Einat Admony is building up a New York eatery empire: Admony’s newly reopened Balaboosta adds a Yemenite-Persian-Israeli taste to her repertoire of West Village restaurants, Taim Felafel and Kish-Kash" - ISRAEL21c (December 25, 2018) (https://www.israel21c.org/chef-einat-admony-is-building-up-a-new-york-eatery-empire)
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Chef and Owner of Balaboosta
Einat Admony, also known as the ultimate balaboosta—"perfect housewife" in Yiddish—is both chef and owner of Balaboosta, the fine-dining Middle Eastern restaurant; Kish-Kash, New York’s first couscous bar; and the beloved falafel chain, Taim. She is also the author of two cookbooks: Balaboosta and Shuk.
Einat, named a "fiercely determined chef" by The New York Times, grew up in Tel Aviv, worked as a cook in the Israeli Army, walked away from college after two months, roamed around Germany as a gypsy, and then packed up her life to move to New York City. Now, after 20-plus years in the Big Apple, Einat persists in her work and expansion with her new ventures, including Kish-Kash. Hand-rolled couscous, deemed "fine as sand" by Eater, is served fresh there every day and is a perfect example of how Einat continues to innovate and push the food scene.
“Cooking is a way to express my love and compassion for those around me,” Einat says. “It is also a way to connect the past with the present and future. The flavors, the smells, the sounds, they flood me with memories and bring me instantly back to my childhood. And make me feel whole.”
When she is not at one of her restaurants, she can be found at home in Brooklyn, cooking for her two children, Liam and Mika, her husband and business partner, Stefan Nafziger, and a constant flow of dinner parties with family and friends.